A competent Down performance
was enough to beat a solid London team and progress
to the Ulster Final against Antrim on the 15th
of June.
The game began well for Down
and in the first few minutes it appeared that
London had peaked in the previous round against
Armagh. A bundled goal from Johnston opened
Down’s scoring and as the back patting
continued London knocked over 2 points and then
shocked Down with a goal from a free.
Down responded with 8 minutes
of good hurling and points from Wilson (free),
Savage, McGourty and Johnston. But London kept
plugging away, a free and 2 points from play
kept the pressure on Down. The teams traded
points in the run up to half time leaving Down
just in front at the break
Down displayed more passion
in the first 5 minutes of the second half than
at any time during the rest of the match. Johnston
was supplied with one of the few decent balls
he received all day and hammered it to the net.
McGourty added a point shortly afterwards leaving
the score 2-10 to 1-7.
London’s centre half
back and midfielders re-established dominance
in the centre and London again came back with
3 points. Down changed their pattern of play,
bringing Benny Ennis on for Stephen Clarke,
dropping McGourty into a roaming midfield role
and playing Branniff further forward. It resulted
in 1-1 for Branniff and made Down look more
potent in attack. Though London were still pegging
back points Down look more capable of hitting
the net.
A goal from McGourty gave Down
more breathing space on a scoreline of 4-13
to 1-15. Points from Braniff, Savage and Ennis
rounded off Down’s performance leaving
the final score 4-16 to 1-16,
Undoubtedly Down will be glad
of the victory and a chance to get a competitive
match over them before the Ulster Final. On
the bright side for Down they never looked like
loosing and they have exited the match with
no major injuries.
Aspects of the game will prove
worrying for Down’s management team. Down’s
midfield and half back line failed to dominate,
especially in the first half, and the team was
reliant on excellent half forward play from
McGourty and Branniff to keep them in front.
In 2008 Down enter the final
as clear underdogs but as with all Ulster Finals
its all up to who performs on the day. Its unlikely
they will repeat last years poor display.
Children from the primary schools half time
match during the
Down London Ulster Hurling Championship Semi
Final.
Though some are in Down and Some in London jerseys
both teams were comprised from Down School children.
